Agitator and ripener.



W..J.McLAUG-HL|N & W. R. NICOLL.

AGITATOR AND RIPENER.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 29.1916.

Patented June 4, 1918.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET l.

W. J. IVICLAUGHLIN 6L W. R. NICOLL.

AGITATOR AND RIPENER.

APPLICATwN FILED JULY 29,1916.

l 268,5 92 a Patented June 4, 1918.

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ITE STATES AT WILLIAM J'. MoLAUGrI-ILIN AND WILLIAM R. NICOLL, 0F OWAIONNA, MINNESOTA,

f ASSIGNORS T0 MINNETONNA COMPANY, OF OWATONNA, MINNESOTA, A CORPO- RATION OF MINNESOTA.

AGITATOR AND RIPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed July 29, 1916. Serial No. 111,976.

Improvements in Agitators and Ripeners,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to an apparatus for treating milk and cream, although of course, it may have a more general application to any liquid. In the treatment of milk or cream it-may be used as a cream ripener, a pasteurizer, a cooler, a starter can, an agitator, a buttermilk machine, a cream temperature holder, and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this class in which a liquid is agitated so that the maximum heating or cooling effect can be obtained by means of the jacket which surrounds the inner receptacle. The invention consists in the novel construction, combination and aring a device constructed in accordance withA theprinciples of our invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operating parts taken at right angles to the viewin Fig.v 1; and, Fig. Bis a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In treating some liquids, particularly `milk and cream, it is desirable either to heat or to cool them to a particular temperature for erforming certain other operations, or for holding the liquid at a desired temperature. If the liquid is merely held in a jacketed container it will not be ofuniform temperature throughout, vand the effect of the jacket is more apparent at the sides of the container than at a distance therefrom.`

For this, reason, means is provided for circulating o r agitating the liquid so that it will be uniform throughout the container.

In the present invention, there is an outer the receptacle. From the inside of the ring 4, an inner receptacle 6 is suspended by means of 'a rim 7 secured to the top of the receptacle 6, the bottom being spaced from the `bottom of the outer receptacle by means of a pedestal 8, held in place by a bolt 9. The space'thus formed between the sides and bottoms of the receptacles forms a jacket for heating or cooling liquid in the inner receptacle.

Connected to the ring 4 is a pipe 10, and extending downwardly therefrom is a discharge pipe 11 with curved distributing wings 11 for admitting heating or cooling fluid to the outer receptacle.

Connected to and through the bottom of theouter receptacle 1, is an overflow pipe 12 which extends nearly to the top of the outer receptacle, and a faucet 13 is connected through the bottom 2 for discharging iiuid from the receptacle 1. A draw-off 14 is also connected to thebottom of the inner receptacle 6 and` extends through the wall of the outer receptacle for emptying receptacle of-liquid when desired.

Extending upwardly at opposite sides of the ring4y are lugs 15, in which the bolts 16 are pivoted, with winged vnuts 17threaded on the ends thereof. Secured to the upper edge of the receptacle 1, at right angles to the lugs 15,y (see Fig. 2) is a support 18, having perforated ears 19 at each side thereof for cooperating with Aperforated ears 20, of a hinge member 21, which is held in connection with the support 18 at each side thereof by means of a pin 22, thus making it possible to swing the hinge member 21 about either pin 22 as an axis by removing the other pin. Pivoted to the hinge member 21 is a `plate V23, which has notched extremities 24 adapted tobe engaged by the winged nuts 17 Projecting from the plate 23 is a bearing standard 25, and secured to the plate adjacent the center of the receptacles is a standard 26 for mounting a shaft 27 and a shaft 28, the other end of the shaft 28 being also mounted in the bearing standard 25, with a driving pulley 29 at the outer end thereof. At the inner end of the shaft 28 is a driving pinion 30, which meshes with av gear 31 mounted on the shaft 27. The standard 26 has an overhanging portion 32 at the top which provides a bearing for a vertical shaft 33, which has a slotted yoke 34^adja 3l. isv azcrankpin :35 which engages in' the slot of the yoke 34, and when the gear 31 is rotated reciprocates the shaft 33 up and y n l bar 36 and` from the bolts 16, and simply --swu1ig to the right or left on the pivot pins down- A rod or bar 36 is secured to the shaft 33 below the yoke134thereofby meansof `a set screw 37, or any other suitable means, and this bar 36 is of sufficient length to reach just above the l'bottom of the' inner receptacle 6 'when the shait'33 is vinits lowermost position. Secured to orl mounted on the -bar 36 within the receptacle 6, are a plurality oi agitatorsj'38 `and 39. The former off-these \is\ represented as being..made of cork, or some other buoyant mate'r1al,and may be i for they freeapassageof fluid. .,Theagtators maybe-regular or irregularin'fshape, itis contemplated that Ithey maybe round or square'or may consistof a number of-projecting ingerseven or uneven in length.

The top yof the receptacle 61s provided with a cover consisting. of twosemi-circular portionseflyone or-both of `whichareprovided :with a lhandle 42. `r`llhe ring 4 islalso provided with an opening-,wand a lid 43 therefor, by means of Awhich ice,`randf'the like, may befinserted orremovedl from the Jacketsurrounding the receptacle 6.'

In operation, the'pulley 29 isrotated 4byanysuitableisource of power, and-its motionis'tran'smitted to the gears to reciprocate the shaft 33and=-the bar 36 connected thereto.

The 'reciprocatio'n of this bary moves the agitators 138 and'39 uprand-downfin the receptacle 6, which. causes a swirlingmovement-ofthe liquid within the receptacle, drawingthe liquid away from the wall and mixing and replacing itwith the other.

liquid., Itsh'ould lbe-Lnoted that the agitators are graduated .inE thicknessfrom the'bar 36 i to; the outeryed'ges. thereof, andv this shape assists in producing the desired: .movement of theiliquid .when' 'the agitators 'are operated.V As'bothfotftheagitators are buoyant y thytend to supportl the weight of the bar 36,' a'ndv only alv very' slight power is yrequired to l operate the .'agitators.

. Inl-removing. the agitators from theoreceptacl'e 6 for cleaning, andthe Eli1e,for for rendering accessible :the'receptaclef' 6,v the ber 21 without `removing either of the cover "members 11, and if desired, the plate 23 land vthe .parts connected-to it, may .bel swung .infeither direction yon one Tof the y'pins 22,

either when the plate isvrotated upwardly, or when it is simply disconnected from the 22. The agitators 38 and 39 may thenv` be removed from the receptacle 6 by removing one section/110i` the lid or cover, whereupon the agitators mayv be lifted -romvgthe receptacle. Itshould be understood that the edgelof the supporting plate 23 which eX- tends acrossfthe receptacle is provided with a recess 4:41as shown in Fig. .1, which forms a guide orrthe verticalgmovement of the bar 36 andthe shaft 33, the upper lbearing 32 servingto hold the shaft inv position. By making theupper agitatorl 3,8,` adjustable, it vcan be slid along the bar36 and held in anyv` desired position, thereby permittingy a more 'eilicient use of the.l device withdiferent 4quantities of liquid inthe receptacle 6. The lowermost agitator 39. can be afiiXed to the bar 36, .for it will be used withfany quantity of liquid.

l/Ve claim l. In apparatus of the class described, the combi-nation @with a fluid receptacle, of a loose-fitting agitator movable'therein, and meansffor reciprocating the agitator 'having afseparable connectionwith the agitator and a hinge connection by meanslof which the said reciprocating means can be vrotated -free from the agitator in more than one direction. when it is disconnected thereirom.V

2'., In apparatusof theclass'described, a

. verticallliuid receptacle, anwagitator'recpro cable therein, Ymeansfor operating *thev agi?, tator pivoted'a-t-one Vside of the receptacle, and diameter. vfastening :means at right anglesto the lside pivot for' .holding the-operating means against the receptacleiradjacentthe center thereof.. v V

l. 3;; Inf apparatusV of .the :class described, the combination-with :a iiuidfreceptacle, ofan agitator;movablegtherein, and' means for'. reciprocating ythe vagitator pivoted atlone side ot .thear'eceptacle v'to swing oppositely :about two -diiferentfbut parallel axes. I v .f

.4i In apparatus of the :class `described,'the combination with an: 'upright4 '.luid recep# ltacle,`of an .agitator movablettherein, andv meansy connected to then-*agitator adjacent the center of the receptacle'pivotedatfthe sidefof the receptacle to Aswing laterally and upwardly therefrom at the( center.

5; InapparatusI of the class described, the

ta'cle, =of=anfagitator movable therein",- a'ndreceptacle, of a vertically movable agitator therefor, and means to move the agitator having a mounting at one side of the receptacle for swinging the operating means in both directions clear of the top of the receptacle about two separate vertical axes.

7. The combination with an upright fluid receptacle, of a vertically movable agitator therefor, means to move the agitator havingl a mounting at one side of the receptacle comprising a pivot for swinging the operating means upwardly from the receptacle, and two vertical removable pivots about one of which the operating means can be swung when the other is removed simultaneously with or independently of the other pivotal mounting.

8. The combination with a fluid receptacle, of an agitator having a central shaft and movable therein, means for moving the agitator, and a plate for supporting said means extending across the top of the receptacle and recessed to fit around one side of the shaft and a pivotal mounting at right angles to the shaft at the side of the receptacle.

9. The combination with a fluid receptacle, of an agitator comprising a shaft, means for moving the agitator, a support therefor comprising a plate extending across the receptacle and around one side of the shaft, a pivotal mounting at right angles thereto at the side of the receptacle, and means for engaging the ends of the supporting plate at the ends thereof which extend across the receptacle.

10. The combination with a fluid receptacle, of an agitator having a central shaft, means for moving the agitator, a support therefor comprising a plate extending across the receptacle around one side of the shaft and to the side thereof at right angles, means at the sides of the receptacle for releasably engaging the ends of the plate which extend across the receptacle, and a pivotal mounting for the plate at the side of the receptacle by which the plate can be swung upwardly or laterally clear of the receptacle.

11. The combinationwith a receptacle, of an agitator therefor, means for moving the agitator, a support therefor comprising a plate having a pivotal mounting at the side of the receptacle comprising a pivot for swinging the plate upwardly clear of the receptacle, and two removable pins spaced apart about either one of which the plate can be swung laterally clear of the top of the receptacle when the other pin is removed.

12. The combination of a fluid receptacle, of an agitator movable therein, a longitudinally reciprocable shaft having a transversely slotted yoke connected to the agitator, a gear having a crank pin engageable in the yoke, and means for rotating the gear to reciprocate the shaft and the agitator.

13. In apparatus of the class described, an upright fluid receptacle, means for agitating fluid therein comprising a vertically movable bar, and one or more agitators movable therewith, one of which is hollow and affixed to the lower end of the rod.

14. The combination with an upright fluid receptacle, of a vertically movable agitator therefor, operating means for the agitator, and two vertically removable pivots about one of which the operating means can be swung in one direction when the other pivot is removed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification on this 25th day of July, A. D. 1916.

WILLIAM J. MCLAUGHLIN. WILLIAM R. NIooLL.

Witnesses:

CARL K. BENNETT, Gr. B. BENNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. I 

